Speech on the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Federal Academy for Security Policy, 26 October 2012 in Berlin

Hans-Dietrich Genscher, German politician of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1992 (except for a two-week break in 1982), Chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE, 1991)

E-mail: buero@genscher.de

Hans-Dietrich Genscher’s speech on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Federal Academy for Security Policy (26 October 2012 in Berlin) is a kind of continuation and logical development of his ideas expressed in the earlier publication ("“1989: The Happiest Year in European History.” Genscher Says Co-operation is Humanity’s Only Promising Option." OSCE Magazine 4 (2009): 6—8). In his speech, Mr. Genscher discusses post-bipolar world structure and new European architecture of security (stability). In this new world order, the world is no longer focused on the United States; new non-European centers of power, especially not the military, but economic, financial, scientific and cultural appear. Non-European alliances and supranational organizations have also emerged. Under the new world order, all countries and all alliances are global actors. However, Europe as a ‘Future Workshop’ could play a leading role also in the new world.

Revolutionary principle on which the European Union is based (and on which, according to Mr. Genscher, the whole world can be based) is the creation of such alliances in which stronger states voluntarily give up hegemony over weaker ones. Mr. Genscher speaks about international responsibility, appealing to Kant, who foresaw today's interdependent world, and who believed that the international law of countries should be extended up to the right of individuals. Harmel Doctrine contributed to cooperation grew out of the confrontation, and recognition of the status quo helped to overcome the division of Germany and the continent. The platform for construction of ‘the best Europe’ was set up, and that Europe as the EU is working closely with the North American allies. Those immediately after the Second World War through the Marshall Plan gave impetus to the European association, given the key to the start for the reconstruction of Europe. Mr. Genscher emphasizes Russia occupies a strong position in this architecture of stability; it is a fact that Western politicians sometimes are apt to forget about it. Meanwhile, Mr. Genscher indicates, the Helsinki Conference was an initiative of Moscow.

It is necessary to give a global response, i.e., disarmament and arms control should be included in international relations as confidence-building elements in a greater extent. It is assumed that the necessary global response will not lead to a new rivalry between global actors. Therefore, it is necessary renunciation of the desire for domination and turning to a new culture of coexistence. This is the thesis in which Genscher's basic idea and the pathos of his speech are.

Keywords: integration of Europe, global interdependence, responsibility, stability, European identity, new and existing centers of power, global order, Europe as a ‘Future Workshop’.

References

"“1989: The Happiest Year in European History.” Genscher Says Co-operation is Humanity’s Only Promising Option." OSCE Magazine 4 (2009): 6—8.